Frangible seal.



ELMER.

FRANGIBLE SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27.1918.

PatentedMar. 18, 1919.

1M: Nmzms PETER: cm, twain-Linda" WASNINUYON, o c.

MARTIN ELMER, 01? HASTINGS, MICHIGAN.

FRANGIBLE SEAL.

Application filed March 27, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN ELMER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Hastings, county of Barry, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Frangible Seals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of self-locking seal of the type in which a flexible strap constitutes the means for engaging the seal with the parts of the device to be sealed by it.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seal embodying this invention, showing the seal as applied to the handle and cover of a milk can, the latter part being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a detail section of the seal device taken as indicated at line 22 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section showing the interior construction of the seal, and being taken as indicated at line 33 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken similarly to Fig. 3, but showing the parts with the loop or ribbon member removed, and with the key member in position for receiving the ribbon, instead of locked position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a dissected view of the shell and parts to be assembled therein, but not including the ribbon itself.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, and showing a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 88 on Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the portions of the milk can chosen to illustrate the mode of use of a seal embodying this invention are only indicated by fragments of the handle A, the top flange, B, and the cover, C. The band or ribbon, 1, of the seal is formed in a loop passing around the handle, A, and through apertures, b and 0, in the flange and cover respectively; and, since in the usual type of milk can, the removal of the cover involves drawing it for a considerable distance along the common axis of the can and cover, and away from the flange, B, it will beevident that such movement, if checked by the presence of the loop of ribbon 1, could only Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Serial No. 225,100.

be effected after the ribbon had been severed. For clearness of illustration, the ribbon, 1, is shown as arranged to permit considerable play of the cover .0, with the loop; but it may be understood that this play is not inherent in the seal itself, and may be entirely eliminated if desired to draw the loop tight about the parts which it engages.

To form a closed loop of the ribbon, 1, its free ends, 2 and 3, are each passed through an aperture in a key member, 4, and folded back over said member, the latter thus forming a link in the loop; and by inclosing the key 4, within a shell, preferably composed of two parts, 5 and 6, whose walls engage and confine the folded ends of the ribbon, said portions of the ribbon are held flat against the key member, 4, and each end portion is folded sharply around the edge of the aperture in the key, through which it passes. The aperture is so shaped that its edge which thus engages the ribbon extends obliquely with respect to the ribbon itself, so that any strong pull upon the ribbon will tend to cut it overthis edge of the key aperture. In the form of key illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, two apertures, 7 and 8, are shown in the key, 4, to receive respectively the end portions, 2 and 3, of the ribbon, 1, while, in the key member shown in Fig. 6, a single aperture, 9, serves the purpose; but in either form the edge of the ribbon, 1, is engaged by an edge of an aperture extending oblique to it, and in both cases illustrated both edges of the ribbon are so engaged by oblique edges of the aperture, so that when the rib bon is placed under excessive tension, the cutting action proceeds simultaneously from both its edges toward the middle of its width, and its cross-section is rapidly re duced insuring breakage or severance. In the forms illustrated the edge of the aperture which actually engages the ribbon is thus V-shaped in outline with the apex pointed outwardly; that is, toward the corresponding end of the member, 4, and in the general direction of the ribbon itself as assembled with such key.

The two parts, 5 and 6, of the shell are shown in Fig. 2 as secured together by crimping or clenching of the flange, 10, of the part 5, over an annular flange, 11, on the part, 6. As thus assembled the flat walls of theshell are separated just sufliciently to admit the thickness of the key member, 4; but each wall is formed with an olfset channel, 12, to accommodate the thickness of the through theshell; and a locking spring, comprising yieldable arms, 15,and 'a.cross bar,

16, ofi'set in a plane below the arms, 15, is secured in the. shell? by engagement: of said offset crossbar, 1.6, in a. depression, 17-, in the. member, 6.

The shell members having been assembled with the spring in this2position, .thesmaller end, 18,015 the key member, 4, is.inserted first through the aperture, 13, and passed between the arms, 15', of thespring, emergingvatthe aperture, 14,v and being-stopped against Withdrawal. by engagement of the 20 abutments, 19,. in its edges-with the spring arms, 15,- as seen in Fig: 4.: 11* length of ribbon, 1', having been cut off foruse, this length may be-threadedithrough the apertures, 13 and:14,' prior to insertion of the ,key, 4, or along with sa-idikey. member, with the end portion, 2, of the ribbon bent through the aperture, 7-, ofthekeyz; or, if preferred, since the key member? willzbe: remince frictionally in position shown in Fig.4, the. end, 2,.of theribbon, 1, canzbe insertedv through the aperture,- 14, after the key, 4, ism-position, saidfend; 2, of theribbon emerging at aperture,.13;' and being then threaded through the. apertu-re, 7,"in the'key, and re-inserted inaperture, 13, emerging finally at 14, after passingalong the channel, 12, in the shellwall. Theoneend, 2, of the ribbon having been engaged With the key member, 4, in the shell by'any of thethree 40 foregoing methods, theother end, 3,2 of the ribbon, is ledaround or through the parts or apertures of the device which is to be sealed, and threaded through-the other aperture, 8, of thekeymember, 4, Whiclris also exposed while the key'remains in position shown in Fig. 4. The key, 4, isthen pushed farther into theshellito position for engagement of its abutments, 20, with the ends of the spring arm, 15, whereby it: is locked againstwithdrawaliin this position as shown in: Fig- 3, and. With the apertures, 7' 'and- 8, and 1 bent ends of the ribbon: thus entirely Within the shell. The :key -member, 4, is: also stopped Fagainstfurther insertion by engagement of itsshoulders, 21, With-the side wall of the: shell at: the aperture, 13,-- the endsaof the ribbon being thus; confined between the fiatiwalls of the channel's, 12, of the shellare kept-sharply bent *aroundzthe. edges of apertures, 7-and 8, and will notreevethrough said ap (31-t111BS,: particularly by: reason :of' the oblique? relationiofcthe. aperture edges .to-the edgeslof. the :ribbohwhichaoause the-Z'lattento be. severed upon any excessive. tension in-the ribbons. These: bent: portions ct -the: ribbon clearance. isprovided for the yielding movesimply merged into asingle. aperture, 9, in

the keyme'mber, 4;, A; further modification isillustrated in F igs. 7 and 8, in which a single aperture, 22, is similarly formedwith \fl-shaped edges pointin-gto its opposite ends. 111* this device, however, the-locking of the key. member, 4*, isv effected by the'engagement of a protuberance or offset,'23, of a spring member; engaging directly between the sharply bent portions, 2 and 3,. of the ribbon, 1, within the aperture, 22. The oil set, 23, is formed in a-partially. severed diametral strip,-24,- of a springmetal disk,-25, lodged in the cavity of:the shell, in.-Which ment of: the strip,- 24, and olfset, 23, by'a channel shaped ofFset,-26, in the shell itself. This: arrangement forlooking. the key member, 4*, in position:dispe1ises:withshoulders or abutments, 19, 20 and-21, but requires :the entering end of thekey' member to be beveled as shown at 27 to facilitate its :entry past the spring abutment, 23. Because of the-posr' tion of the. springabutlnent, 23,in relation 1 to the. key member, 4 aitter insertion of: the

latter, it I Will be evident: thatthe end, .2, of the ribbon,-1, Will be. first threaded through the shell and through the aperture, 22, of

the key, before said key isintroducedinto the shell; From this :point,'however, .the completion of thescalingoperation is the same asiforthe other form, that is, the remaining end, 3,0f the ribbon, 1, isinserted in the aperture, 22, before said aperture is moved 1 within the shell," and then, uponl sliding of the-keymember, 4 to carrythe aperture Within the shell, the final lockis-efifected by engagement of'the springabutment, 23, in the aperture, 22, andbetween said end portions, 2and '3, of the ribbon, 1. 1 r

It Will-b6 evident that many further modifications .of form may: bemade without departing from the spirit'ofmy invention- IClfl-lfil! I 1. A sealing: device comprisingcasing,

'aIkey, and-a flatsealing' strap'; the-casing having an aperture in which t-her-key; fitsior longitudinal thrust? thereinto Wlth clearance at oppositesides for the flatstrap, the key having an aperture -vvhose edge "is angular,

' one endofthe :strap being insertedyithrough the aperture, the casing aperture being: adequateonly to accommodate the key and: the strap when the latter iswfolded elose: against l the; opposite 'SidGS -O-IE tlIG; key, andgmeans-for engaging the key with the casing when the key is thrust in the casing far enough to carry the fold of the strap on the edge of the key aperture into the casing.

2. In the sealing device defined in claim 1, means for securing the other end of the strap to the casing consisting of an aperture in the key through which'said end of the strap is entered from one side and folded against the opposite side of the key before the key is thrust to locking position in the casing.

3. In the sealing device defined in claim 1, the aperture in the key with which the strap end is engaged having an edge over which the strap is bent for such engagement, sloped obliquely away from the fold or bend of the strap which is lodged upon it for severing the strap by a draw out when the latter is pulled against such obliquely sloping edge.

4:. In the sealing device defined in claim 1 foregoing, the side of the aperture in the key with which the strap end is engaged, comprising edges which are at an angle to each other sloping away from the fold of the strap at the opposite lateral edges of the latter, convergingly toward the middle of the width of the strap; whereby the strap is supported only at its lateral edges on said sloping edges of the aperture for a draw out inward from both of said edges of the key aperture when the strap is pulled against it.

5. In the sealing device defined in claim 1, the other end of the strap being secured to the key at a point in the length of the key which is within the casing at the locked position of the key, the strap extending from its said securement out in the direction in which the key is thrust into the casing for carrying into the casing the fold of the first mentioned end of the strap.

6. In the sealing device defined in claim 1, both ends of the strap being engaged in the same aperture of the key, the strap running in opposite directions from said engagements for emerging from the casing in opposite directions, one of said directions being that in which the key is thrust into the casing for carrying in the fold of the first mentioned end of the strap.

7 In the sealing device defined in claim 1, both ends of the strap being engaged with the key and running in opposite directions from their engagement for emerging from the casing; means for locking the key in the casing, consisting of an offset projecting into thec'avity of the casing for engaging between the two end portions of the strap at their folds respectively around the aperture edges of the key with which they respectively engage.

8. A seal comprising a shell, an apertured key member slidably carried thereby with its aperture initially exposed outside the shell, a band or strap having one end dimensioned for insertion in the exposed key aperture, the shell walls being closely adjacent the key member for bending the band against it and confining said band at the bend when the apertured portion of the key is moved in the shell, and a spring catch device within the shell for opposing the withdrawal of said key after sliding of its apertured portion in the shell.

9. A seal comprising a shell, a flat apertured key member and a flat strap inserted through the key aperture, and bent flatly against the sides of the key, said shell having an opening to admit the apertured portion of the key, and the shell wall adjacent to such opening being formed by the channel which is in cross section substantially equal to that of the strap, to accommodate and confine said strap to the key, together with means for locking the key against withdrawal of its apertured portion from the shell.

10. A seal comprising a shell, an apertured member slidaibly carried thereby, and a pliable strap formed in a loop with its ends bent back upon themselves forming oppo sitely-directed hooks both engaging the a'pertured member, the aperture edges thereof being oblique to the edges of the strap, and converging in pairs toward the longitudinal center line of said strap and away from the proximate hooked ends, respectively, together with means for locking the apertured member in position to secure the hooked end inside the shell.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Hastings, Michigan, this 23rd day of March, 1918.

MARTIN ELMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

